Paving a (plastic) path to profit in Hawaii and beyond

Hawaii, among the most isolated island chains in the world, serves as a microcosm for tackling global challenges through innovative solutions. Instead of letting ocean plastics degrade its ecosystem, they’re now integrating them into the very roads that residents drive on. For the infrastructure investor, this represents the transition of “trash” into a high-performance building material. Sara Novak reports for SN on how Hawaii is literally paving the path to a circular economy.

🛣️ Chemistry meets construction

Hawaii’s leadership in sustainability is driven by a unique combination of geographical necessity, aggressive legislative goals and the revival of Indigenous ecological knowledge. The Nets-to-Roads project, a joint effort between Hawaii Pacific University and the state’s transportation department, has moved beyond the laboratory and onto the highway. While testing various mixes of plastic, including never-used rubber and recycled fishing nets, as an additive to asphalt, researchers have discovered that the pavements don’t shed significant microplastics into the environment. Tests on durability of these recycled net–containing roads are ongoing.

🏎️ Paving a path to profit

For the construction industry, this isn’t just about green optics, it’s a welcome innovation in the global asphalt market slated to surpass $83 billion by 2030.